ORONO - A 9-14 slate against tough nonconference opponents is far from the worst situation Maine softball could find itself in to this point in the year, but it also recognizes there are areas of improvement.

Maine Softball @Maine_SoftballWATCH: Prior to the Black Bears' @americaeast conference opener this weekend at Hartford, we sat down with head coach Mike Coutts to recap Maine's spring trip and get his thoughts on league playvideo: https://twitter.com/Maine_Softball/stat ... 3293669377

ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine softball team is set to open America East conference play on Saturday when it travels to Hartford for a three-game weekend series. The Black Bears and Hawks will meet on Saturday, March 31 in a doubleheader set for a noon first pitch before closing the series with a single game on Sunday, April 1 at 11 a.m.

Maine is 53-22 all-time against Hartford and have won 11 consecutive games against the Hawks. To find Maine's last loss in the series, you'd have to go all the way back to March 22, 2014.

SCOUTING THE BLACK BEARS:Maine enters the weekend with a mark of 9-14 and will be returning to the diamond for the first time since March 18 after losing last weekend's series at Boston University due to weather and field conditions. The Black Bears rank sixth in the league in hitting (.232), third in ERA (3.98) and sixth in fielding (.939).

Spring break, then a long break and now conference play for UMaine Softball

ORONO, MAINE (WABI) - UMaine softball played 13 games in a week on spring break. They haven't played in two weeks since. The Black Bears say they learned about a lot about themselves as a team on the trip. They've worked on improving since they got back..

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- Erika Leonard and Rachel Carlson each recorded two hits and scored two runs as the University of Maine softball team completed a weekend sweep at Hartford with a 6-2 decision on Sunday afternoon. The Black Bears have now won five in a row and begin America East action with a 3-0 mark.

Annie Kennedy recorded her second win of the weekend in the circle after giving up two runs, one earned, on eight hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Kennedy extended her streak of innings without a walk to 31 straight while improving to 6-3 on the season.

Carlson, who notched her ninth multi-hit game of the season, also knocked in two runs while Maddie Decker added a two-RBI performance in the Maine (12-14, 3-0) victory.